The Eighth Tribe, 1978 (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1978-08-01 / 8. szám

August, 1978

THE EIGHTH TRIBE

Page 5

mont and also to the nearest division led by General Sigel, ading that he expected reinforcements from both commanders. However, Zagonyi’s decision to attack without reinforcements remained unchanged. Zagonyi was an old-hand, experienced cavalryman and knew what the 67 mile night ride meant to his newly recruited cavalrymen who made up his company. Zagonyi was well aware they made the hard, raincoatless ride thru the damp, fall night; that they had nothing but jerky to slake their hunger for the Fremont Camp had been without bread for seven days. Knowing all this Zagonyi addressed his men and told them he would excuse anyone because of weariness or any other reason. To his happy surprise not a single Guardsman asked to be excused.

Zagonyi’s company spent the afternoon circling the city and regrouping by 4:00 p.m. on one of the Ozark’s prominent slopes. In the interim, Major White’s company misconstrued orders and remained behind; did not later participate in the charge but did engage a southern cavalry raiding party outside the city. At his position within sight of the city, Zagonyi received the second report of his forerunners, which placed the strength of the enemy at 2000-2200 men. He personally gave no thought to turning back but he was concerned about his recruits. Again he addressed his men, reminding them of the numerical superiority of the enemy and the possibility of not a single man returning alive. Again he clearly stated that anyone wishing to withdraw from the charge may do so. But even on the threshold of apparent certain death not a single man showed the slightest intention of backing out; as one unquivering whole, the Guards stood by their worshipful commander, ready for the charge into death. The deeply moved Zagonyi gave a final truly Hungarian Hussar piece of advice; defend not yourselves but attack the rebels: slash them wherever you can, let them be the defenders! Moving to the head of Lt. Newhall’s platón, they started toward the city.

Zagonyi believed that the enemy was on the far side of the city and thus was astonished, after a ride of several hundred yards, to find himself and his Guardsmen in enemy crossfire. Zagonyi and the vanguard sought the safety of the nearby gully which, however, was limited by a tall fence, full width across, which caused a sudden congestion of men and horses. The majority of cavalrymen at the rear of the company recoiled at the sudden fire which downed many horses and caused other horses to throw their riders. At most, only 110 remained in saddle. This was indeed a critical moment of the charge! Zagonyi had to make an immediate decision; either

THIS MARKER COMMEMORATES ONE OF THE MOST DARING AND BRILLIANT CAVALRY CHARGES OF THE CIVIL WAR.

LATE ATNIGHT.0CT. 24.I86I.MAJ. CHARLES ZAGONYLCOMMANDEROF FREMONT’S BODY GUARD, WITH 300 MEN, INCLUDING 130 OF MAJ.WHITE'S PRAIRIE SCOUTS,LEFT FREMONT'S CAMP NEAR BOLIVAR TO ATTACK A CONFEDERATE FORCE AT SPRINGFIELD. ON THE 25TH.THEY DETOURED ABOUT A MILE WEST OF THE PRESENT FRISCO STATION TO EFFECTA SURPRISE FROM THEWEST.THE C0NFEDERATESRR0BABLY 1500,ENCAMPED ON THE HILL AND IN THIS VALLEY, WERE WARNED AND READY, BUT ZAGONYI,DIVIDING HI S FORCES, REPEATEDLY CHARGED UNTILTHE ENEMY RETREATED TO THE EAST AND SOUTH. ZAGONYI REORGANIZED THE REMNANT OF HIS FORCE ON THE PUBLIC SQUARE AND PROVIDED CARE FOR THE WOUNDED BEFORE LEAVING TO REJOIN FREM0NTS C0MMAND.0N THIS STREAM,I2.M.S.W. WAS FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF WILSON CREEK,WHERE GEN.LYON WAS KILLEDUNIVERSITY CLUB HISTORICAL MARKER N0.17.ERECTED MAY 6,1931.

Zágonyi’s Marker at Springfield, Missouri

miraculously forward or shameful death-heavy retreat. He would not have been a worthy Hussar of Kossuth had he chosen the latter. On his command Lt. Tivadar Majthenyi, the only other Hungarian member of the Guards, lit from his charger, unlocked the barricading gate, whereupon Zagonyi, yelling encouragement with his “Forward! For Fremont and the Union”, charged the enemy.

With death defying bravery, he carried not only the vanguard but the whole company forward into battle. The re-spirited recruits enthusiastically reechoed his battle cries as they rode hard to catch up with their far-advanced leader. They soon forgot their previous moments of near-disaster as they victoriously cut through 5-600 southern soldiers and their blazing rifles. Zagonyi himself, later said that he witnessed several instances of two or three guards battling 30-40 southern infantrymen. By the time the